Green Urban Scenarios: A Framework for Digital Twin Representation and Simulation for Urban Forests and Their Impact Analysis

Abstract

Background Trees are a critical part of urban infrastructure. Cities worldwide are pledging afforestation objectives due to net-zero targets; however, their realisation requires a comprehensive framework that combines science, policy, and practice. Methods The paper presents the Green Urban Scenarios (GUS) framework for designing and monitoring green infrastructures. GUS considers weather, maintenance, tree species, diseases, and spatial distributions of trees to forecast their impacts. The framework uses agent-based modelling (ABM) and simulation paradigm to integrate green infrastructure into a city’s ecological, spatial, economic, and social context. ABM enables the creation of digital twins for urban ecosystems at any level of granularity, including individual trees, to accurately predict their future trajectories. Digital representation of trees is created using a combination of datasets such as earth observations from space, street view images, field surveys, and qualitative descriptions of typologies within existing and future projects. Machine learning and statistical models calibrate biomass growth patterns and carbon release schemes. Results The paper examines various green area typologies, simulating several hypothetical scenarios based on Glasgow’s urban forests. It exhibits the emergence of heterogeneity features of the forests due to interactions among trees. The growth trajectory of trees has a non-linear transition phase toward stable growth in its maturity. Reduced maintenance deteriorates the health of trees leading to lower survival rate and increased CO2emissions, while the stormwater alleviation capacity may differ among species. Conclusions The paper demonstrates how GUS can facilitate policies and maintenance of urban forests with environmental, social, and economic benefits.